Luis Fonsi has calypso’ed his way back into the Top 10 on the charts…
The 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer’s “Calypso” climbs 13-9 on the Billboard Latin Rhythm Songs airplay chart after a full tracking week (August 20-26) of the song’s new remix with Karol G, which was released August 17.
The song advances with an 18 percent surge in audience in the week ending August 26.
For Fonsi, “Calypso” marks his fourth Latin Rhythm Songs Top 10. Each of his previous hits came in between 2008-2017, two as a lead act and one as co-lead act. “Yo No Me Doy Por Vencindo” reached No. 8 in 2008, “Aquí Estoy Yo” peaked at No. 4 in 2009, and the smash “Despacito” alongside Daddy Yankee, featuring Justin Bieber, which led for 20 nonconsecutive weeks (March-July 2017).
Karol G, meanwhile picks up her second top 10, which includes one No. 1: “Mi Cama” with J Balvinfeaturing Nicky Jam.
The new agreement with Fonsi includes his global hit “Despacito,” which is now the Latin song with most wins ever at the BBMAs.
The new agreement with Fonsi, who first signed to Sony/ATV in 2005, includes recent hits “Despacito” and “Echame la Culpa.” But it also encompasses his past catalog of Spanish language hits, including “Aqui Estoy Yo,” “No Me Doy Por Vencido” and “Nada Es Para Siempre.” The deal also includes future works.
“I’m happy to continue to work with the amazing Sony/ATV family led by my longtime friend Jorge Mejia,” said Fonsi in a statement, referring to Sony/ATV’s president for Latin America and U.S. Latin. “We’ve shared some amazing moments together and I can’t wait to celebrate more.”
Added Mejia: “In my career and perhaps in the annals of Latin music, there is certainly a ‘before Despacito’ and an ‘after Despacito’. I am honored to extend our long-standing relationship with Luis Fonsi, a history-making artist, songwriter and friend.”
In addition to his most recent wins at the BBMAs, Fonsi was presented with the President’s Award at the BMI Latin Awards in Los Angeles in March.
The 38-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter’s latest single “Despacito,” featuring Daddy Yankee, rises 2-1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart dated March 11.
The seventh career chart-topper for both Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.
The ascent marks Fonsi’s first Latin Airplay No. 1 since 2009, when “Aqui Estoy Yo” topped the chart. Daddy Yankee most recently crowned the list in 2016 when “Vaiven” spent a week at the top (January 23).
The song’s rise to the summit is due to a 13 percent increase at the format, to 18.2 million audience impressions in the week ending February 26, according to Nielsen Music. Both act’s hometown station WKAQ, San Juan, Puerto Rico (a Univision Radio station), was a top contributor with 77 weekly spins of the song.
Univision Communications, Inc.’s vice president, managing director of radio strategy Ismar Santa Cruz tells Billboard, “Luis Fonsi took a heritage sound that he has been known for and successfully adapted it to the sounds that are impacting the market and our audience today.” Adding, “the inclusion of Daddy Yankee as a featured artist added an additional rhythmic element by a core star artist that complemented the track very well.”
Fonsi, who has dotted the chart with 30 songs since debuting in 1998, has traditionally been known known for his ballads. “Despacito” is his first foray into a more rhythmic, reggaeton sound aided by a pioneer in reggaeton’s shift into the mainstream, Daddy Yankee (the record holder for most chart hits on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Songs chart, with 59).
Univision’s WXNY, New York also championed the track with 45 plays (and 1.2 million audience impressions). Of its nationwide draw, Santa Cruz comments “Univision listeners are really relating to the rhythm and lyrics— and we’re seeing that in various formats across multiple top markets including Puerto Rico, Miami, Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles, among others.”
Santa Cruz sums up the tracks appeal, “all in all, the track really hits on all levels, and we see it resonating to that degree with our audiences.”
Luis Fonsi’s Seven No. 1s on Latin Airplay Title, peak date (weeks at No. 1)
“Imaginame Sin Ti,” Sept. 9, 2000 (two weeks)
“Abrazar La Vida,” May 22, 2004 (one week)
“Nada Es Para Siempre,” Aug. 27, 2005 (one week)
“Tu Amor,” Feb. 24, 2007 (one week)
“No Me Doy Por Vencido,” (19 weeks)
“Aqui Estoy Yo,” June 13, 2009 (one week)
“Despacito,” featuring Daddy Yankee, March 11 (one week, so far)
Elsewhere, “Despacito” concurrently spends a fourth straight week at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart thanks to increased digital sales and steady streams, in addition to the on-air rise.
For a third consecutive week it is the most streamed Spanish-language song in the U.S., supporting its stay atop Hot Latin Songs (despite a 3 percent dip to 7.6 million plays in the week ending Feb. 23). YouTube accounts for nearly half of the streams (49 percent), where the music video for the track has collected over 369 million global views since its January 12 release. Digital sales also aid the ranking, hiking 11 percent, to 9,000 downloads sold.
There’s plenty of joy in Jesse & Joy’s world this week…
The Mexican pop/rock duo proved to be the ultimate victor at Thursday night’s Latin Grammy Awards show.
The 29-year-old Jesse Huerta and his 26-year-old hermanita Joy Huerta picked up four awards during the show, including best record, song and contemporary pop vocal album.
“Thanks to the best fans in the world,” said Jesse, who with his sister picked up the Best New Artist award at the 2007 Latin Grammys. “It feels incredible. We’ve not been at the Latin Grammys since 2007, so this feels like a great comeback.”
Meanwhile, Colombian pop-rock singer Juanes, who will launch a tour next May, took home two awards for his MTV Unplugged set, including album of the year and best short form music video. When asked if he gets nervous before an awards show, he said that he definitely thinks about the entire process.
“I don’t suffer,” said Juanes. “You think maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not. These wins are much more than I imaged.”
Cuban jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval won two trophies for best Latin jazz album (“Dear Diz – Every Day I Think of You“) and best tango album (“Tango – Como Yo Te Siento“).
“I’d like to dedicate this award to my father who turned me on to the tango,” said Sandoval as he received his award. “He was a mechanic, but when he spoke about the tango he knew all of the melodies.”
Mexico’s Carla Morrison, one of the year’s most celebrated indie pop acts, took the prize for best alternative song for her emotionally-driven “Déjenme Llorar,” a song about breaking up, which has helped the singer/songwriter become a YouTube sensation. Later she also won for best alternative music album.
“This is also for all the kids who have broken hearts,” Morrison said.
Mexico’s DJ collective 3BallMTY won the best new artist trophy in an acceptance speech that left the teen act in tears.
“We’re very happy and we really wanted this,” said a tearful Albert Presenda, aka DJ Otto. “We especially want to thank our families who have put up with so much of our traveling.”
Other winners included Pepe Aguilar for best ranchero album, Milly Quezada for best contemporary tropical album for “Aqui Estoy Yo,” Fonseca‘s Ilusion+ for best tropical fusion album — beating out Prince Royce — and Tucanes de Tijuana‘s 365 Dias for best norteño album.
Hosted by actress/singer Lucero and actor Cristian de la Fuente, the first round of awards included a prize for Spanish pop singer David Bisbal, who won for best pop traditional vocal album.
Earlier in the day during the Latin Grammy pre-telecast, more than 30 awards were given in a ceremony at the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, including producer of the year to Juan Luis Guerra.
